Does the Current State of Healthcare in the United States put your Personal Health in Jeopardy?
The answer is ABSOLUTELY! The problem with healthcare in the United States, today, is the great success that Henry Ford had in mechanising the production of automobiles. American healthcare looked at that and decided the same could be done for people.
Where has your primary care physician gone? According to an article in US Health Policy Gateway, one in four primary care physicians is leaving the market. This will eventually lead to a shortfall of 45,000 to 90,000 physicians by 2025 according to the same source.
So your family practitioner is gone, like mine will be in June of this year. What do you do if you've got a sharp pain in your lower abdomen? Choices are clear: Hit the emergency room immediately or go to a Walgreen's take care clinic and see the NP. Going to the emergency room for every complaint is most likely costly, under your current insurance plan, so how about an urgent care?
I've been to one on the weekend and find them effective in processing me through and giving me a diagnosis. Obviously, they don't have the history on me they should have and interoperability across corporate lines is non-existent, so they are guessing based on symptoms presented. At the end of the day, this process is the same as ordering a Big Mac meal at the McDonald's drive through.
What's the answer? ACA has accelerated the EHR process in healthcare in the US today. We can now own our patient record and therefore we are responsible for our own care. The phrase "Physician heal thyself," has never been more appropriate. People need to understand their own risks and keep up with immunizations and testing. There won't be a friendly family practice aiding you with their unique expertise in this area. This process now belongs to you.
Align yourself with a healthcare system and partner with them to help you stay alive. Most systems now have outreach programs to neighborhoods, some extending into multiple states. Find a system in which you're comfortable and force them to share responsibility for your health. Physician extenders are a reality and the best ones work for systems who pay well. Look that up on line and see which systems are recording the highest salaries and, I almost guarantee, those systems are also leading in positive outcomes.
Don't wait to be a statistic. Nobody is looking over your shoulder and forcing you to manage your health. Very good applications exist to connect you with your EHR. Visit this website for a list of the top ten best on the market today: https://www.capterra.com/sem-compare/electronic-medical-records-software?headline=Health%20Record%20Tools&gclid=CjwKCAjwzoDXBRBbEiwAGZRIePZWnSu5GnGyL4NTYN7G7bDiIaf1TBx8KIHo9Dhqt2gs7irT-FNGYBoCKo0QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Finally, as the US healthcare delivery system implodes don't let yourself and your family be caught in the maelstrom. I attended a lecture by an industry thought leader, four years ago, who suggested strongly you carry your test results with you. Show your attending physician X-Rays, CT Scans, bloodwork, and all other information relating to your personal health. They don't have it so it's now your responsibility.
Good luck and have a happy future!
Bruce Bennett can be reached at [email protected]